Help My Unbelief | February 13, 2017We probably all have areas of our lives where we have given up hope. Yet, as children of God, there are times when we encounter Jesus anew and He reminds us that meeting with Him is the boost we need to be able to see beyond our present situation.

And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”Mark 9:21-24, NASB

Valentines Forever | February 14, 2017To be a Valentine forever, we choose the pain and blessing of love over all other things. This ensures a healthy relationship as well as a healthy heart. Forgive; stay vulnerable; seek oneness in the other. These will keep you in love for a lifetime.

They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” But Jesus said to them, “ Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.Mark 10:4-5, NASB

Becoming A Radical Forgiver | February 15, 2017In this single verse, Jesus makes the case for the most important activity anyone can be a part of, both from a blessing perspective and from a personal perspective. I think that sometimes we choose not to get this verse because it seems like Jesus got it wrong somehow. Let me explain.

Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.Mark 11:25, NASB

Are You The Example Jesus Is Using? | February 16, 2017This chapter is full of drama. Challenged on every side, Jesus reveals his brilliance, displays His wisdom, and commends those who are getting the essence of the Kingdom life. When He finishes these tests of wit, He sits down by the offering box and examines the habits of the givers. In this, He discovers such an outstanding example, He calls His disciples to teach them the lesson.

And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”Mark 12:41-44, NASB

Are You Focused On What Lasts? | February 17, 2017It is easy to get distracted by the many things in this life that parade themselves as beautiful, valuable or important.... Love, beauty, Spirit, peace, and joy are gifts that the poorest of us can access and own. Pause for a moment and allow Jesus to give you the wealth that is free.

As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples *said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”Mark 13:1, NASB